Those were the words that every Lycoris agent held onto, a reminder of the peace they ultimately served to preserve. It was through them that the serene veneer of public safety in Kyoto was maintained ever since the end of the Fourth Corporate War. They were the hidden soldiers within a populace, quietly approaching and silencing those who would threaten the image of relative peace within the ancient capital of Japan.
The shadow organization known only as 'Lycoris' was a black operations group, one whose existence could never be made public. Its operatives were orphan girls, often from those whose families had been service of the local government, who were then put on specialized regimen and training program from a young age to become talented assassins for their country. Then they were given cybernetic implants to further their abilities on the field, and distributed into a variety of roles both on the field or behind closed doors.
Make no mistake, Lycoris was certainly not a kind or charitable organization. It turned those young with aspiring futures into stoic patriots, prepared to kill their fellow countrymen if to maintain the image of public peace in Kyoto. Yet it could be argued that it is through their sacrifice that those on the side could live in happiness and content, free from the dark realities which plagued this world. It was an argument that even the operatives, also called Lycoris, struggled with themselves even as they showed no hesitation in maintaining the public peace.
Some insisted that it was necessary to kill for their nation, a civic duty they were chosen for. Many others simply saw it as a way to repay the government for raising them, a sort of odd filial debt that would be fulfilled when they reached adulthood. Indeed, that was something directly promised to the girls, that they would be freed of the organization and given the necessary civilian papers when they became 18, the closest sort of thing to a retirement a Lycoris could hope for.
Yet it was so hard at times to believe it because few ever lived that long. In a world where dangerous cybernetics could be applied by backstreet ripperdocs, every encounter could prove to be a fatal one with a rampaging Cyberpsycho. That was not to even mention the proliferation of black market guns, a way around the legal ban of private firearm ownership, meaning that it still was possible for unsavory actors to lay their hands on dangerous weapons that could kill even the most augmented Lycoris. It was in short a dangerous life, one that meant not every girl would ever grow up.
But still they persisted. They stalked, they hunted, they killed, again and again. For the sake of Kyoto, for the sake of public safety, for the sisters they have bonded with. The spider lily bloomed on the dark road they walked amid the people, disguised as regular schoolgirls. For too many of them, the very same flower would bloom on their grave in the near future.
For the lucky few, the flower was tucked into their hair upon graduation from the program.
You were looking forward to that, as your eyes fluttered open to stare at the blank white ceiling. You maintained the gaze for a little while, your head spinning while you tried to remember your last few memories. Almost immediately, you winced at the ghostly ringing in your ears.
"They've set the bomb, we don't have much more time! All units, advance now!"
"My partner's down, please, I have to get to her!"
"You have your orders, if we don't defuse that explosive in time, even more will die!"
"Everybody, get back, we can't crack-!"
Then there was the distinct sound of an explosion going off and that was all you recalled. You gritted your teeth and felt your nails press into your palms, the bitter taste of failure still in your mouth. That emergency operation had involved every single senior Lycoris, thrown them against an unhinged gang supported by Arasaka tech of all things. Many of them had been looking so eagerly to graduating soon.
Now, maybe you and a few others were left with such a stinging defeat to mark the end of your careers.
It felt wrong, to have all the killing you had done over the years to save lives to become so invalidated with one maniacal act.
While you laid there stewing in memories, a familiar voice finally spoke up through an intercom system. It was the Doctor, as you called him, the MedTech you were assigned to for healthcare and cybernetics. "Good morning, Lycoris. How are you feeling?"
"Like hell."
"I see. I do apologize, but you know the drill about medical debriefs, we have to verify you. Please provide your agent identification code."
"Juliet 702."
"How old are you?"
"17, going to be 18 in a week."
"Where were you born?"
"Where else? Kyoto."
"What was your academic performance like? What department did you belong to?"
"Slow down there, give me a moment. It's been a while since I've thought about my schooling." You sighed and massaged your temples, casting your mind back to the training lessons that started you on the path of being a Lycoris. "Let's see, I was this kind of student…"
Choose two characteristics you excelled in
[ ] [Excelled] Empathy (+2)
[ ] [Excelled] Cool (+2)
[ ] [Excelled] Reflexes (+2)
[ ] [Excelled] Body (+2)
[ ] [Excelled] Intelligence (+2)
[ ] [Excelled] Tech (+2)
Choose one characteristic you flunked in
[ ] [Flunked] Empathy (-2)
[ ] [Flunked] Cool (-2)
[ ] [Flunked] Reflexes (-2)
[ ] [Flunked] Body (-2)
[ ] [Flunked] Intelligence (-2)
[ ] [Flunked] Tech (-2)
Choose which department of Lycoris you belonged to
[ ] [Department] Street Agent: You were a typical Lycoris agent, roaming the streets in hunt of those who would threaten Kyoto's public safety and taking them out quietly. You are one of the most involved in fieldwork, with plenty of onsite investigation and direct operations.
[ ] [Department] Cyber Agent: You were assigned to work as part of Lycoris' Netrunner department, perhaps as a guard or one of the Netrunners themselves. You often worked with both hardware and software, focusing on the cyber war for public safety.
[ ] [Department] Cleaner Agent: You were the part of Lycoris that dealt with cover ups, either from that from other agents or tragically of other agents themselves. You helped secure and clean crime scenes to scrub them from public image, or helped grimly with the burial of other girls.
[ ] [Department] Private Agent: You...actually never belonged in the regular Lycoris hierarchy. You still were a member of the group but for one reason or another, you went and did your own thing independent of direct oversight. It ultimately served the interests of the organization to leave you be and you kept it that way by being an unexpected source of aid from time to time.
- The characteristics are each broken down as the following; Empathy: A measure of how relatable and personable as a human, to get others to see things your way or appreciate your presence. Examples: Charming others to your side, bargaining for prices, or putting on a performance. Cool: A measure of how focused you stay while under pressure, to remain calm in danger or maintain confidence. Examples: Sneaking about restricted areas, finding alternate paths, or silencing unaware opponents. Reflexes: A measure of how fast your body moves to your thoughts, to engage in combat or react to danger. Examples: Firing a pistol, using a sword, or driving a vehicle. Body: A measure of how strong your body is to exertion, to resist succumbing to pain or moving in spite of exhaustion. Examples: Swimming a distance, running at lengths, or enduring concussive trauma. Intelligence: A measure of how learned your mind is, to recall details in total or utilized software. Examples: Executing a program, researching a topic, or cooking the books. Tech: A measure of how good you are with technology, to craft together devices from parts or put hardware to the test. Examples: Fiddling with cybernetics, working a lockpick, or tailoring custom explosives.
- Stats wise, you start with 10 in all so a +2/-2 isn't a huge modifier (especially with a d100 system), but there are further options to change that more later on. It also affects what sort of personality or attitude you have to things. As an example, being good with both reflexes and body while having bad empathy means you are focused more on pure action than wasting words (in short, Takina from the show).
- I binged all of Lycoris Recoil and had this really weird idea it works so well in a Cyberpunk setting. Here's a go with it! You will recognize a lot of terms/references from the RPGs, but I'll probably lean heavily into homebrew content for the setting.
Four hour moratorium for the first part of character creation. Vote by plan.
"During the examinations, I scored highest in working with technology, and working in the shadows." The ghost of a smile crossed your face. "I almost failed the physicals though. Almost."
"There is no almost- you either pass or fail a physical," The Doctor idly noted and you shrugged.
"Still, it was enough to bench me from being a more active member. I think they were considering putting me through Netrunner training to see if I was more suited for that. But in the end, I was instead assigned to the Cover-Up Department," You recalled with a tilt of the head. "Apparently my ability to understand things quickly while observing from the shadows made me suitable to act as a Cleaner Agent."
"Please describe what a Cleaner Agent usually entails."
You frowned, feeling like this particular examination was doing every single optional question. You sighed, but knew that giving the straight explanation was the quickest way to get this medical exam over with. "A Cleaner Agent is a Lycoris tasked with making sure that we truly leave no traces of our presence. If the regular members act as scissors to prune the garden, we are who clean up the debris to make sure it remains clean. We are essentially the ones who delete our presence in passing."
"How would you achieve it so?"
"We are put on standby the moment a threat is identified. Once an avenue of elimination is determined, we are rushed to the scene while those already present commence the operation." The word felt sterile on your tongue, a blase way to describe a Lycoris in the field approaching and assassinating a would-be criminal. "When we reach the scene, we immediately get to work packaging bodies and disruptions while cleaning the scene. Idly, we would have wiped all traces of the operation within an hour for minor regular encounters."
"How about major encounters?"
"The difference is that we are usually already on the scene when the operation begins then. We may not be as experienced as those who regularly patrol the streets, but we still are Lycoris," You firmly insisted with an intense look. "We can still fight, and we help secure the perimeter from enemy reinforcements in such cases. Afterwards, it's business as usual with clean-up and scrubbing the scene, though it understandably takes much longer now."
"Is that all?" The Doctor pressed and you bit your lip, recalling a ghastlier duty of Cleaner Agents.
"We are also tasked with disposal of assets following clean-up, upon return to our base. For our opposition, it is a simple matter of incineration following confirmation of identification details. For…" You faltered for a moment, then gritted your teeth to push on through. "For our fallen, the process is more detailed. We take time to pay respects while either erasing or removing Lycoris cyberware from them. Then their bodies are cremated."
There was a long pause, perhaps the Doctor generously allowing you a moment to calm yourself. Maybe he understood that every Cleaner Agent has at one point or another had to handle a fallen Lycoris, making sure that their sacrifice was never forgotten. Finally, he spoke, moving on to the next topic. "Please describe in detail what your specific role was in the department. You may as well go into detail about prominent moments in your service history."
"I suppose you want my best and worst moments on file. Very well, if I recall correctly…"
Choose a department role and two skills to excel in -[ ] [Role] Restoration: You were the one who directly went onto battlefield afterwards to tidy everything up. From wrapping the fallen in bodybags to collecting brass to even repairing bullet holes, you were like the groundskeeper for Lycoris. (+2 Tech) --[ ] Driving (R)
--[ ] Botany (I)
--[ ] Geology (I)
--[ ] Electronics (T)
--[ ] Repair (T)
-[ ] [Role] Cover-Up: You were the one who helped secure the area from further intrusion by curious or nosy civilians and bystanders. You helped spread plausible stories to have them shrug and move on, while also deleting all evidence that Lycoris was once there. (+2 Empathy) --[ ] Persuasion (E)
--[ ] Streetwise (C)
--[ ] Electronic Security (T)
--[ ] Composition (I)
--[ ] Forgery (T)
-[ ] [Role] Autopsy: You were the one with the grim duty of disposal of assets, both foreign and Lycoris. You tried your best to balance duty with respect for the dead while working to make sure not a single piece of the organization's secret cyberware leaked to the public. (+2 Intelligence) --[ ] Body Language (E)
--[ ] First Aid (I)
--[ ] Biology (I)
--[ ] Diagnose (I)
--[ ] Cybertech (T)
Choose a highlight of your career -[ ] [Highlight] Scene Erasure: Just when you had thought you had cleaned up a scene pretty well, a gang of all things shows up looking for their assassinated associates. You led your colleagues in drawing them in to assassinate them, dirtying the scene once again. (+3 Reflexes, +3 Cool)
-[ ] [Highlight] Lycoris Lifesaver: Just when you had reached for a fallen comrade, you realize with shock they were actually still alive, but not for long! Your timely realization and emergency aid saved their life, and you were appropriately honored by your colleagues for saving a sister. (+3 Empathy, +3 Cool)
-[ ] [Highlight] Riot Fighter: A cover-up went badly for one reason or another and instead incited a civilian riot that tried to push in to see what was happening. You were at the front of the defense effort, withstanding and holding back the crowd from discovering the activities of Lycoris until the situation defused. (+3 Empathy, +3 Body)
-[ ] [Highlight] Perfect Cover: There was a massive Lycoris operation that caught the eye of the public and threatened to blow the organization's cover. You alone were the only one who came up with a cover-up story sufficient enough to spin it away, earning you no small amount of respect from the higher-ups at your creativity. (+3 Empathy, +3 Intelligence)
-[ ] [Highlight] Cybernetic Forgery: A piece of Lycoris technology was somehow leaked and got on the black market, a disaster...of your doing. You successfully created a fake variant of Lycoris technology with the approval of your higher-ups and the organization purposefully leaked it to create mass disinterest in the organization's 'shoddy' cyberwares. (+3 Cool, +3 Tech)
-[ ] [Highlight] Reborn Flower: During a regular cleaning, a group somehow managed to ambush your team and cut you down, taking the others hostage. You managed to fake your death and pull yourself together long enough to not only send an alert but to also take on the group by yourself to save your colleagues. (+3 Reflexes, +3 Body)
Choose a disaster of your career -[ ] [Disaster] Failed Story: Unfortunately, the cover-up led by you drew more attention than normal from the public eye and Lycoris was forced to cease operations for a while to remain hidden, much to your shame. (-3 Empathy)
-[ ] [Disaster] Leaked Cybernetics: You failed to thoroughly wipe a piece of Lycoris technology and it fell into unsavory hands, necessitating a special operation to retrieve at great cost. (-3 Tech)
-[ ] [Disaster] Scene Contamination: During your duties, you accidentally tainted a piece of vital intelligence that wasn't retrieved properly. It was a mistake that earned censures all around, with you taking a lot of blame as well. (-3 Intelligence)
-[ ] [Disaster] Blood Nausea: There was a particularly bloody firefight that resulted in a mountain of bodies on the scene and you couldn't handle it, losing your stomach in front of so many others. The humiliation stuck with you for a long while. (-3 Cool)
-[ ] [Disaster] Surprised Runner: While cleaning up a scene, there was an intrusion from a passing Edgerunner and you were given orders to eliminate them. But they drew quicker than you and put you out of commission, the stinging failure of defeat giving you shakes of the hand. (-3 Reflexes)
-[ ] [Disaster] Booby Trap: You were shifting about a body when there was an ominous click. Then you woke up in a medical bed with half your body riddled with shrapnel from the detonation. You never could recover your old strength. (-3 Body)
- You will get all the listed skills of the role you pick, but the two skills you mark out will start at Rank 6 instead of a normal start of Rank 3. It's a difference of a +12 vs +6 bonus to your skill rolls, and you are considered a "employable" with those specific skills. Skills range from 0 to 10 and each level gives a +2 bonus to rolls. At Rank 3, you're an enthusiastic dabbler. At Rank 6, you can probably get a job from this. At Rank 9, you're considered a professional, if not one of the best in the field.
- These will be the last basic stats, but not the end of skills (we still have combat skill options that you get by default/can choose)
Four hour moratorium to consider a service history plan.
X] Plan Floral Cleaners
-[X] [Role] Restoration: You were the one who directly went onto battlefield afterwards to tidy everything up. From wrapping the fallen in bodybags to collecting brass to even repairing bullet holes, you were like the groundskeeper for Lycoris. (+2 Tech)
--[X] Repair (T)
--[X] Botany (I)
-[X] [Highlight] Perfect Cover: There was a massive Lycoris operation that caught the eye of the public and threatened to blow the organization's cover. You alone were the only one who came up with a cover-up story sufficient enough to spin it away, earning you no small amount of respect from the higher-ups at your creativity. (+3 Empathy, +3 Intelligence)
-[X] [Disaster] Booby Trap: You were shifting about a body when there was an ominous click. Then you woke up in a medical bed with half your body riddled with shrapnel from the detonation. You never could recover your old strength. (-3 Body)
"I was specifically one of the regular cleaners who went in to help patch everything up," You recalled, looking at the mirrored glass. "I did a little bit of everything, from putting the bodies in bags to collecting the bullet casings. We couldn't leave a trace after all."
"I see. Is that all?"
"Well, er," You coughed awkwardly and rubbed the back of your head, almost bashfully. "I...tried to tidy up the scenes really well and make them even prettier than before. I actually made sure to top it all off with a nice vase of colorful flowers to make beautify, if you could believe it."
"You, or rather, the record does suggest you add a bit of extra flair to your duties," The Doctor chuckled, dropping the sterile attitude for a moment. "A bit of flowers to brighten up a day after a killing, huh?"
"It never fails to perk me up," You softly said with a quiet melancholic smile. "That actually leads into my next mention, of which you'll find early in my service history. In one of my first outings as a Lycoris, the clearing team missed a trapped body and didn't defuse it when the Cleaner Agents showed up. I was the unfortunate one who shifted the body, and paid for it with my own body."
"How bad was the damage?" They quietly asked, even though they already knew the answer.
"It was pretty bad," You admitted and looked down your arms, at the pristine skin that once was covered in streaks of blood. "I was hospitalized for a long while, and being a rookie, I didn't have many friends then. But some of the girls still took time to leave a flower with well-wishes at my bedsides, so I grew enamored with them. It never failed to keep my spirits high while I recovered."
"Did you make a full recovery?"
"Somewhat. I still do get the shakes here and there," You admitted and clenched your fists, feeling the slight shakes of a phantom pain that you doubt would ever go away, even if you replaced everything with cybernetics. "But I remained pretty sharp and had plenty of inspiration to get even better. It actually led to the Blossoming, which I'm proud to have come up with."
"Is that so? Please explain what that is."
"A few years ago, Lycoris ambushed a group of yakuza attempting to muscle into Kyoto with illegal firearms. The ambush was not as effective as planned and there was a chase through the streets that culminated in a shoot-out in a public park." You shook your head, recalling the expressions of your dismayed colleagues when they realized how much of a mess they had to clean up. "The scale of the operation was so large that the public naturally caught wind of it. Lycoris as an organization was on the verge of being unmasked to the people, which would threaten our entire existence. So I made a proposal."
"What sort of proposal could cover up an incident of this scale?"
"Simple: it so happened to be the flower-viewing season soon," You mentioned with a nod. "So to match with the festivities, we spun the encounter as a movie shoot about a crime drama, about the death of sakura blossoms and like. We even took the smuggled firearms and threaded flowers from the barrel to act as props, leading the public to fawn and think it was all just a stunt for a movie."
"Wouldn't the public get suspicious of the school girl actors using guns however?"
"But right there, you've proven that it works." You smiled and pointed a finger gun at the mirrored glass. "You immediately assumed we were actors, not something else. That alone has people skip and glance over the entire thing, thinking more about how silly the movie plot was compared to the reality of it all. So, the public continue to go about their day, not knowing what goes on behind the veil."
"...I see. It's very clever," The medical professional praised and you could sense that they meant it. "It's slightly astonishing that you came up with that all while restricted to headquarters with a light duty restriction. But perhaps that was a good indication that you were a great Cleaner, even when not on the field."
"I was still pretty eager to get back on the field," You admitted with a scratch of your cheek. "I event spent most of my light duty restriction on the range, to really bring my shooting skills up to snuff."
"Of course, of course. I think that it doesn't even need to be mentioned that every Lycoris is at least very skilled with handguns, specifically the Towa 14 Police Pistol."
"The standard-issued handgun for all Lycoris, and the main tool for our work," You dutifully recited.
"Very good. But not every Lycoris has the same firearms training, do they? Variety is key to success, after all." There was a pause, then the Doctor casually added another critical detail. "And that includes your cyberware as well, doesn't it? You've got some unique parts on you besides the standard suite of universal installs."
That was true. You blinked and your vision swim when your optical cyberware kick in, a HUD system popping up. It was a custom piece of software that was installed in all Lycoris to allow for direct peer to peer communication on the field, along with linked targeting systems. You were sure your eyes were glowing while you tested all systems and tried to ping for nearby units as a test.
There was a muted silence for a moment and your hand clenched up. No...no it couldn't be-!
Ping.
Ping.
Ping.
You let out a relieved sigh when suddenly, three friendly pings responded, indicating at least three nearby Lycoris units. You at least weren't alone in the medical center. "Juliet 702, please refrain from getting ahead of yourself," The Doctor dryly requested and your face was flushed with embarrassment at the technical breach of examination protocol.
"My apologies."
There was a good-nature sigh, one that made you sure the Doctor was slightly smiling behind the glass. "We may as well skip forward then if you're that eager. A quick detailing of your combat capability and your cyberware will suffice as an apology."
"Sure. Let's see…"
Choose two weapon combat skills -[ ] [Weapon] SMG: Covers high damage weapons that are excelt at close quarters, but struggle with piercing armor. -[ ] [Weapon] Assault: Covers excellent standardized firearms that do well in all categories, but don't usually excel in a single one. -[ ] [Weapon] Rifles: Covers very long range guns that are more suited as assassination tools than direct combat, especially up close with a low ammo count. -[ ] [Weapon] Shotgun: Covers very short range weapons that deal high damage and piercing, at the cost of ammo capacity. -[ ] [Weapon] MG: Covers bulky machine guns that are very powerful firearms but struggle badly when brought into close quarters. -[ ] [Weapon] Explosive: Covers very limited but powerful weapons that are capable of destroying terrain and vehicles alike. -[ ] [Weapon] Melee: Covers a range of both traditional and modern weapons meant for getting up close to swing away.
Choose two Lycoris Cyberware -[ ] [Cyberware] Minerva Optics: A proprietary Lycoris software attached to the optical cyberware that directly tracks and reads the body language of designated targets with incredible detailing. This feeds into a program that quickly analyzes and predicts the target's next moves, allowing for one to even theoretically predict when they will fire a gun at the user. This is most effective at close range, where the detailing system will have the most to work with. Effects: +1 Empathy. You will have an Empathy-based chance to evade bullets at close and short range.
-[ ] [Cyberware] Hound Arms: Advanced artificial musculature is weaved and integrated together in such a way that the user is magnitudes stronger than what normal cyberware can provide. It has been designed this way to allow for Lycoris to still blend in with the populace, but yet have the shocking capability of lifting and wielding heavier weapons with little struggle in combat. Effects: +2 Body. Halves accuracy penalties of MG and Explosive weapons.
-[ ] [Cyberware] Decentralized Cardiovascular: The user's heart has been replaced with an artificial heart that has been carefully spread around the body, making it so that they no longer need rely on a single organ to keep their blood flowing. It has been designed with a Pain Editor so Lycoris on the field can keep fighting in spite of critical injuries, a double edged sword when it comes to survival. Effects: +1 Body. You do not suffer penalties for being wounded.
-[ ] [Cyberware] Surge Sandevistan: A rudimentary piece of cyberware that has been taken to a new cutting edge of speedware technology for Lycoris. A single thought is all it takes to accelerate one's reflexes and actions to a point where it feels like the world is still around the user, without the risk of biological degradation. This comes at the price of it being less powerful than the destructive Corp variants. Effects: +1 Reflex. You gain a +20 to all Initiative rolls.
-[ ] [Cyberware] Panther Paws: Stealth functionality integrated with advanced musculature creates leg cyberware capable of moving quickly without making a single sound to alert the enemy. It is popular for Lycoris that prefer either getting up close quickly or quietly depending on the situation. Effects: +2 Cool. Negates enemy cover penalty for shooting.
-[ ] [Cyberware] Mantis Shears: At a single thought, a set of sharp blades shoot out of the user's arms that can easily cut through flesh with little effort. The name comes from how the twin blades placed together can resemble a set of garden shears. Very fitting of Lycoris. Effects: +1 Tech. Gain the Mantis Shears cyberweapon.
-[ ] [Cyberware] Linked Assessment: Lycoris authorizations enable for direct connection to local police servers to access their profiling system, providing a wealth of information about local citizens. This is combined with access codes to public camera systems to enable for indirect trailing of identified targets alongside updating profiling programs. Effects: +2 Intelligence. Provides active profiling for characters, revealing a depth of information about affiliations, crimes, bounties, and more.
-[ ] [Cyberware] ECM Tattoo: Defensive cyberware meant to defend against Netrunners comes with the slight embarrassment of having a garish tattoo inked onto the user's back. For Lycoris, most opt to simply have it take the form of a red spider lily to help earn some popularity with their sisters. Effects: +1 Intelligence. You gain a +20 to all Tech rolls resisting Quickhacks.
- Please note that this is all cyberware developed by the government for Lycoris. In short, these are the very powerful and near-unique versions of the technologies that you can't find on the streets. Choose wisely.
- Some cybernetics happen to synergize with one another. You'll unlock a hidden bonus if you can figure them out, but I do think they might be rather obvious.
Four hour moratorium to come up with a style plan.
[X] Plan: Chisato Profiler
-[X] [Weapon] SMG: Covers high damage weapons that are excelt at close quarters, but struggle with piercing armor.
-[X] [Weapon] Shotgun: Covers very short range weapons that deal high damage and piercing, at the cost of ammo capacity.
-[X] [Cyberware] Minerva Optics: A proprietary Lycoris software attached to the optical cyberware that directly tracks and reads the body language of designated targets with incredible detailing. This feeds into a program that quickly analyzes and predicts the target's next moves, allowing for one to even theoretically predict when they will fire a gun at the user. This is most effective at close range, where the detailing system will have the most to work with. Effects: +1 Empathy. You will have an Empathy-based chance to evade bullets at close and short range.
-[X] [Cyberware] Linked Assessment: Lycoris authorizations enable for direct connection to local police servers to access their profiling system, providing a wealth of information about local citizens. This is combined with access codes to public camera systems to enable for indirect trailing of identified targets alongside updating profiling programs. Effects: +2 Intelligence. Provides active profiling for characters, revealing a depth of information about affiliations, crimes, bounties, and more.
"I've been trained for close quarters combat specifically, with a focus on short range weapons. Submachine guns and shotguns were my highest scoring fields, so I was rated to be a room breacher if the need ever arose."
"Don't room breachers need some sort of significant endurance to them?" The Doctor asked in a seemingly innocent tone, leading on the next part of the conversation. "You do seem rather frail compared to most others who fit the archetype."
"I am, but my cyberware makes up for it." You pointed to your eyes, which seemed to glow eerily while they spun up. Your vision blurred for a moment before snapping back into a higher resolution, your opticware having finally rebooted all systems. Now you saw the world with pinpoint clarity that was superior to any natural eye, with a built-in scanner and analysis system. Just even looking at yourself caused multiple holographic tags to pop up all around your body, predicting your next move based on your gestures. "Minerva Optics with a Linked Assessment system."
"The infamous projectile predicting system, combined with access to police profiling. A bit overkill for a Cleaner Agent, don't you think?"
"I'm a Lycoris first, a Cleaner second," You firmly declared, putting a hand on your chest. "If the need ever arose for me to take up a gun to preserve peace, I must. Especially if it's a direct order or if my sisters are in trouble. That was why I was one of those assigned to take point duty in the last operation."
"Regarding your last operation, we should save that for a proper debrief later." But before the Doctor could continue, somebody else spoke up, one that had your body immediately straighten up on instinct.
"That won't be necessary. We'll review it now." The door to the recovery room slid open and you felt your gut drop out from under you at who was entering now. It was the Commander, the woman who headed the entire Lycoris operation and oversaw everything, from field deployments to public cover-ups. A focused figure who had no qualm about sending orphaned girls to kill to maintain the veneer of public safety in Kyoto.
Rumor has it that she had been a former Lycoris herself.
"Commander!" You leapt to your feet and snapped to attention, arms firmly planted to your side. "Juliet 702, reporting!"
"...I see," She said in an unusually soft tone that had you blinking in confusion. You risked a glance to try for an analysis your optics, only for the Commander to wave you down. "At ease, at ease. I'm not going to sugarcoat or boss you around today. Not when you're so close to being an adult yourself to stand equal to me. One week, right? Just in time for the graduation."
You hesitated, unsure what to say. But you supposed, it was true. "I'll be in 18 in a week, ma'am. But even then, you have much more in experience than me."
"Mmh, is that how it seems from afar?" She idly asked before shaking her head. "In any case, you've likely already figured out that Operation Sakura was a failure."
Your hands balled into fists. "How bad was it?"
"Out of all senior operatives sent on the mission, only four survived including you. As for the actual damage to public safety," The Commander gestured and you nodded, reaching for your hand. There, you pulled out a cable from your wrist and plugged into a socket next to the bed, connecting you to the Lycoris servers. It was necessary to have a closed system for internal Lycoris communications and reports, to greatly decrease the chance of wandering Netrunners from unveiling the organization.
A moment later, a digital report popped up in your vision that you quickly read through. "The damage ultimate sounded worst than it actually looked. Your juniors worked hard to either help cover everything up or eliminate traces of it ever being there," The Commander told in a tired voice. "I expect that in a month or two, few will remember it compared to what else is going on in the world."
"A train collision. A very handy explanation," You muttered, seeing the samples pulled from local news stations. You arrived at the last report and your expression trembled for a moment, seeing a list of pictures with red crosses on them. "So many of us, just gone."
"...at the very least, their sacrifice wasn't in vain. Projections indicate that had the field teams disabled as many explosives as they had, the cover-up would be even harder to sell without inviting direct suspicion." The Commander bowed her head. "A cold comfort though, especially when you realize your graduating generation is one of the smallest we'll have for a while."
"It is. Just me...and three others." You remembered the pings from earlier and hesitated, wanting to immediately rush out to reassure them of your survival. But doing so would be a massive breach of protocol and highly disrespectful to the leader of Lycoris.
Said leader solved the problem by stepping aside with a nod. "Go on. Everybody's already woken up ahead of you and finished their medical exams. I believe they're getting to know each other in the rec room now."
"Juliet 702 has no yet finished her full medical exam or debrief-" The Doctor pointed out from the monitoring room and the Commander rolled her eyes.
"Let her be, she deserves it after everything. Also about high time you stopped calling her that." She looked at you straight in the eyes with a warm look. "Call her by her name now. She'll be going by that once she graduates anyway."
"I suppose so. And I also suppose she's undoubtedly a break from my nagging," The MedTech chuckled and the windows lost their mirrored sheen, revealing the figure of the Doctor giving you a reassuring nod. "Go on, and if something breaks later, I'll patch you back together again. As many times as needed."
Your throat suddenly felt dry at the sudden freedom both the Commander and Doctor were giving. Was this them recognizing me as an adult now? You managed to hold yourself together long enough to give them both an appreciative bow before leaving the recovery room, remembering to disconnect yourself safely and retract the cable back into your arm. You found yourself in the hallways of the medical ward, something you had gotten very accustomed and familiar with over the years of service and recovery. With a deep breath, you began to head in the direction of the patient recreation room-
Only to almost trip and stumble when somebody hugged you from behind. "Hark! A fellow warrior that has returned from the Sanzu!" You squeaked in surprise and turned quickly around to face a grinning young woman your age. Your optics flickered and immediately identified her as a friendly Lycoris, giving you the name and designation. "Ah, forgive me, we've never crossed paths before today! I am-"
"Delta 120, right?" You finished, causing her to blink in surprise. "Street agent and assault specialist, known for your swordsmanship."
"Ah!" At the last bit, she beamed and pumped a fist eagerly. "So you have heard of me! Most excellent, my legend is growing!"
"It's more that I have record access," You admitted and the Lycoris deflated, her ego popped. You glanced over the service history and figured quickly that she absolutely fitted the archetype of being a 'Street Samurai,' taking to patrol duty with a bokken over her shoulder in addition to the regular gear. It actually made for an effective design, looking like a regular kendoka student in the crowds.
"Alas, the Way is a long road," She sighed, then perked back up with an eager grin. "But do call me by my name now, like all the others! Ah, I shall bring you to them!"
She gripped your wrist tightly and pulled you along to the rec room, talking all about how excited she was to meet you all the while. You winced at the clear strength in them and guessed she likely had cyberlimbs, ones that were perhaps stronger than yours. Before you could get a question in otherwise, you found yourself already looking at the door to the rec room, the area meant for recovering Lycoris agents to relax while healing up.
The doors slid open and Delta 120 excitedly raised her voice. "I return, and I bring forth our missing comrade! Come, sisters! We are now complete!" She declared, and immediately there were a few giggles at the boisterous tone on display.
"Of course, honorable warrior," A bespectacled woman told with a shake of the head and quiet smile. She nodded politely at you and your software got to work. "Sorry if she's a little over the top, but she's been eager for you to wake up. Then your ping drove her up the wall and we couldn't stop her."
"She was, like, so happy," A dreamy looking Lycoris mentioned, then tilted her head curiously. "Oh wow, you look like, so familiar. I think I've seen you in like, my department."
"Yes, I'm a fellow Cleaner." You studied her for a moment, not even looking at the digital report being assembled in your vision. "You're...Alpha 417, right? From the cover-up division."
She lit up and clapped happily. "You're like, so smart! I forget half the time where I'm at," She admitted with a carefree laugh. You raised an eyebrow but wasn't fooled by the seemingly ditzy attitude, knowing she was still a Lycoris in the end.
In the same manner, you knew that the one who looked a little more bookish than the others probably was still an expert shot with the pistol. You turned to her next and read aloud the report prepared by your cyberware. "You're November 117. From the Netrunner department."
"My, somebody's got some fancy eyes," She observed with a smile. "Minerva Optics, right? With a Linked Assessment system as well, what an interesting combination. I would've expected that from a veteran Street Agent though, not a Cleaner Agent.'
"The higher-ups just decided what my eyes were be replaced with after I lost them," You admitted with a casual shrug, then hastily clarified at the alarmed looks from all three of your colleagues. "Not this last operation, I lost my old eyes before that."
They relaxed at that assurance and you took the moment to study how each of them did sport some bodily injury, one way or another. The Street agent had bandages wrapped around half her face, the Netrunner was sitting in a wheelchair, and your fellow Cleaner had a crutch resting on the chair next to her. You supposed you got off light compared to them all, having been only knocked unconscious.
A dark part of you reminded that in comparison to all those dead, you four got off extremely lightly. You told that part to shove it and focused on just introducing yourself to your fellow graduates-to-be. "I'm Juliet 702-"
"Nay I say, nay!" You went cross eyed for a second at the finger placed on your lips from the near-poser samurai. "You must surely have been blessed with a name, no? We shall share our names as is fitting of battle comrades!"
- Some of these names may be familiar. Remember Japanese name structure is last-first name, but we'll prioritized the given name for ease.
- Cyberpunk is very diverse and open, so you can choose to have a non-Japanese first/last name if you'd like. Nicknames are also fair game.
- I reserve the right to veto inappropriate write-in names.
"I'm Yuuki," You slowly tested, your own name unfamiliar on your tongue. You admitted, perhaps you had been a bit more uptight and adherent to your identification code than other Lycoris, focusing on the job above all else. But now, it felt right to finally go by a more personal form address, now that you were about to finally bloom, so to speak. "I'm Anzai Yuuki. Lycoris Cleaner," You quickly added while taking a seat to join the small gathering.
"Behold!" Mitsu pointed at you dramatically with a wide smile. "She does have a name! One that shall make the heavens tremble before her!"
"More like, summon a blizzard!" Momiji added with a giggle. "Not too far from snow drop, right? Do you maybe want one instead of a spider lily next week? I could like, try to find one!"
"It's already almost spring, I don't think that's going to be around," Arisu pointed out with a raised eyebrow. "It's honestly a miracle that we get real spider lilies for our graduation, what with how so many things are just artificial these days. It's difficult to cultivate naturally as well."
"Like, it's totally a metaphor for us!" The airy Lycoris seized upon and reflected on. "We're spider lilies, we're so pretty!"
"Hmph. I would much prefer something like a cherry blossom!" Mitsu proudly declared and raised her arms in triumph. "We bloom beautifully in such a magnificent display, then we disappear for another year. But we never fade away from memory!"
Momiji suddenly perked up at that phrase and Arisu groaned, putting a hand to her face. "Oh no, look what you've done."
"Huh?" You voiced confusedly, then blinked when your fellow Cleaner burst out into a tune.
"A thing of beauty, I know...will never fade away!" She sang lightly, totally catching you off-guard. There was a shocking energy to Momiji when she grabbed her crutch and pretended it was a microphone stand for her little performance. "What you did to me, I know...said what you had to say! But a thing of beauty, I know…!"
"She's a massive Samurai fangirl," Arisu explained to you with a shake of the head and quiet smile. Her eyeglasses suddenly lit up with a digital glow, perhaps indicating cyberware activation. "Set her off, and you're in for an impromptu karaoke session."
You tilted your head and glanced at your colleague with an interested look. For what it was worth, she clearly had singing talent, hitting the right tones for the popular song. Your own eyes lit up and added Momiji definitely had talent as an entertainer somewhere, somehow. Maybe that was how she helped Lycoris cover-ups. Why, it was almost like you could hear the song itself-
Hold on, you could. The rec room's speakers cackled to life all of the sudden and began to play the distinct electric guitar riff of Johnny Silverhand and Kerry Eurodyne, though it lacked any of their vocals. Momiji eagerly took their place though, easily slipping into the karaoke version without pause. You stared, then turned to Arisu just as her glasses deactivated.
She caught your look and shrugged with a quiet giggle. "Karaoke's better when you have the song going on, right?'
"And drinks too!" You nearly leapt out of your seat when suddenly, Mitsu was pressing a chilled can into your hand. You felt the condensation on the surface and realized it had to be from the fridge across the room, but the way the seats were arranged made it impossible for the self-proclaimed ronin to reach that without crossing your vision. She caught your confused look and grinned knowingly, tugging at her collar to reveal the metal lump sticking out from the back of her neck.
Ah. That explained things. She did cross your vision, just too fast to be tracked by normal optics. You accepted the drink gratefully and cracked it open, only to pause when you realized Mitsu was still looking at you. "Is something the matter?"
"Nay, simply that you should endeavor to smile more!" She offered and tapped her can of Nicola to yours. "Such sights should not be so reserved. Indulge more!"
You simply brought the drink to your lips in response.
Perhaps it was the fact you spent all of it in the medical ward focusing on healing up. Perhaps it was the fact that it was the very last week before graduation. Perhaps it was the looming reality that it was going to be your 18th birthday, the day when you were legally an adult.
Or perhaps it was the fact that you spent the time with the other surviving Lycoris to get to know one another in greater detail. It was probably the most socializing you've ever done in your life, more so than even with your old squad. Your placement with them had been more simply like a workplace assignment, one based entirely around simply seeing each other the most when on the job. Other than that, you never really got to know them.
A small part of you whispered that you never could anymore. They had been among the confirmed casualties list.
Maybe it was that guilt which pushed you to reach out and finally get to know your fellow Lycoris. Like how Mitsu dreamed of being a hero of justice, no matter where she went. Like how Arisu was interested in attending university to try and land a nice cushy job. Like how Momiji undoubtedly wanted to pick up a musical instrument and begin a rise to stardom like her idols. In turn, that made you consider what you really wanted to do with the rest of your life.
Just what will I do when I graduate? You pondered, even when you stood on the stage behind the Commander giving the farewell speech. There was a slight nudge to your side and you snapped out of your musings just in time, giving a slight nod of gratitude to Arisu while reaching the end of the speech.
"...and so, despite tragedy, we push on to commemorate and honor those who today have proven themselves without a doubt to be some of the finest operatives. we have ever seen," The Commander stated, turning to face the four graduating Lycoris. "Juliet 702. Delta 120. Alpha 417. November 117.
"No. I should be now calling you by your names. Yuuki. Mitsu. Momiji. Arisu." The older woman smiled and reached into her uniform, withdrawing a small canister filled with red flowers. "Thank you for your service and sacrifice. Today, you may consider yourselves freed from any obligation to Lycoris, and may do with your lives whatever you please."
The container slid open with a hiss and you tried your best not to flinch when Lycoris radiata was tucked into your hair, the blossoming of the spider lily marking your ascent into adulthood. You swallowed and stood at attention, with only your eyes wandering to look out over the audience of the graduation event. As Lycoris were all orphans, it only made sense that there weren't any sort of beaming or proud parents to witness the moment their child became independent.
Instead, the audience consisted of very few adults, namely those like the MedTechs or intelligence analysts who worked in the background to keep the organization running. The vast majority otherwise were other Lycoris, all girls younger than you by either only a single year, or even as young as 10 in the most drastic of cases.
Your throat tightened up at the thought. A necessary sacrifice for the public safety of Kyoto, You told yourself unconvincingly. If not for us, how many more would suffer? It's the only way….right?
You managed to hold back a contemplative sigh to respect the rest of the ceremony. There was one final call and salute from the Commander and audience, one that the graduates returned. Then it was all over, with Lycoris dispersing quickly to return either back to their duties, or to finish packing up.
You returned to your empty dormitory and considered your worldly belongings, now all in a single roller suitcase. You hesitated, then undid your Lycoris school uniform for one last time, putting it on a hanger for somebody else to use. In its place, you dressed up in civilian clothes you rarely touched, loose clothing that felt odd compared to your work outfit.
At the very least, that was the only thing you couldn't wear anymore. You were still allowed to take your Lycoris schoolbag with you, a neat little bit of technology that combined bullet-resistant construction with incredible utility. It was both a form of emergency armor protection and your firearm holster. A quick flick had the side fall out to reveal your service Towa 14 Pistol, waiting for you to reach and draw quickly in an emergency. A test shake with am electronic trigger had a magazine drop out from the bottom and land neatly in your hand, ready to be loaded.
You nodded and returned everything back into place, making sure that your newly minted government ID was also snugly tucked within. According to what the Commander had mentioned during the final debrief, the ID actually also included a special permit for ownership of your service pistol. This made it exempt from Japan's very strict gun control laws. Notably, it also permitted access to police armories to purchase spare ammunition, assuming that said police were cooperative in that regard.
Notably, it did not cover ownership of other firearms. Neither was it a blanket pardon for usage. The Commander had jokingly warned the graduating Lycoris to avoid committing crimes, but the truth was that so long as one of them didn't suddenly decide to reenact the Night City Holocaust, the graduates had the freedom to pursue whatever they wanted. That was the big kicker now for you, and you sat on the bed mattress, staring at your weathered schoolbag and the pistol within.
What could you do? You supposed that you could choose to follow one of your fellow graduates as a companion in their journey. Perhaps you yourself could also join in pursuit of their dream, one way or another. At worst, you could be a roommate to help split the rent expenses, which could help your own finances as well.
The idea of finances put you then in a gloomy mood, a reminder that now as an independent adult, you had to actually pay bills and manage a budget for your own lifestyle. You did have a nice little nest egg from Lycoris, a backlog of 'pay' amassed from service, but life out there was expensive. Rent, food, even little utilities like your phone bill, it all added up and you were going to need to find some way to make money. You sighed, wondering if perhaps the legends of Edgerunners on the streets making fistfuls of cash every gig had any substance to it.
Then an idea struck, one that had your hand moving to push the holster back into the schoolbag. You did have some marketable skills. You were a deft hand at repairs, and you also had considerable experience in botany. Perhaps you could lean on one of those skills to find a specialized job. Also rather obviously, you were Lycoris, a government-trained assassin. Your combat skills were no joke and you could make a pretty penny selling out as a mercenary, a 'Solo,' if you recalled the term correctly.
Perhaps then, that meant that you could maybe become a true independent, owning your own business-!
Suddenly your opticware lit up with the notification of an incoming call. You glanced at the ID and immediately accepted. "Commander."
"Not your Commander anymore technically," The woman teased before growing serious. "But more importantly, are you available?"
"...I'm not your subordinate anymore," You tersely reminded.
"Of course. Which is why I'm asking if you're interested, instead of ordering you." The Commander's image stared at you directly. "If you're not, I'll drop the matter and let you be on your way. But if you're say, willing to go on a mission that only a graduate can do, approach my office for details. Please only do so if you are intent on accepting, so as to maintain secrecy."
"I see." You let out a breath and nodded. "I'll think on it."
The call ended and you leaned back, putting hands on your former bed. You supposed that was also another route in the end, to continue working with the government and take on jobs they would struggle with. Lycoris especially as an organization was rather limited, and veteran agents were a precious commodity. Maybe you could live your life that way, though it sounded like this tasking wasn't a true commitment to that, more like a one-off thing maybe.
You chewed your lip and considered if you wanted to accept this mysterious mission then.
[ ] [Lifepath] Approach the Commander's Office. You're a Lycoris, first and foremost. If the Commander has a mission that only a graduate can do, you've a duty to oblige and volunteer for it. Perhaps she'll even pay you for it.
[ ] [Lifepath] Mitsu's Wanderings. Mitsu has expressed a deep desire to become a hero somewhere somehow, even if it means wandering the world to find and defend the weak. Join her journey and roam the world as her companion.
[ ] [Lifepath] Arisu's Exams. Arisu has plans to study and apply for college exams, wanting to experience real school life for a little while, then perhaps landing a comfy Netrunner job through it. Maybe you could also share in the experience for a bit.
[ ] [Lifepath] Momiji's Star. Momiji wants to become an entertainer one way or another, through song or other media, and she's going to immediately try to audition and grow a fan base. Help her debut in the entertainment industry in a memorable way.
[ ] [Lifepath] Yuuki's Way. You're not interested in anything else, this is your life now. You alone know what you want, and you'll set out to make it a reality.
- Please note that if you decide to do the Lycoris gig, it is not yet a full commitment to that path, but more like the first step. I'll also make mention that for said gig, you could perhaps ask for one of the others to help you out. Afterwards, who knows?
A part of you wanted to instinctively obey and report to the Commander's office for the mission, that it was your civic duty to your nation to answer the call and serve. Even if it meant throwing your life away, it would be for the good of so many more to prevent more orphans like you from being created.
It was the piece of you that was Juliet 702 and you exhaled, a hand reaching for the side of the Lycoris schoolbag where your service pistol was tucked within. A single flick, and you could draw it in service of your country.
Then you grabbed the handle and slung it over your back instead, letting it fall in a familiar position but not drawing the weapon at all. Instead, your hand grabbed your roller suitcase and firmly gripped it tightly, not letting go. It was your gateway to your new life now, because you weren't Juliet 702 anymore.
You were Anzai Yuuki, and you wanted to live. You exited your old dorm wordlessly and passed the Commander's office. The door was slightly ajar to allow a glimpse within, where the head of Lycoris was going over some files. She noticed your passage and simply inclined her head, respecting your decision. If there was a mission, she'd have to call another graduate or pass it to another division of the government to address. It wasn't your problem anymore.
That would be how you were going to make a living from now on. Your thoughts bounced around in your head while you exited the Lycoris facility and made your way to a black car just waiting outside. You loaded your suitcase in the back and slid into the backseat, making yourself comfortable as the self-driving AI activated to take you away from the private government base, the disguise of the Lycoris headquarters. Your former home now, you numbly reflected.
Ah, that was right. You had to consider where you were going to live from now on. You sank in your seat and blinked, finally accessing the digital bank account that had been set up in your name. It was curiously set to display your current funds in Eurodollars, but you supposed that was for ease of convenience given just widespread it was. Almost every single vendor in Japan would accept either that or New Yen.
You focused on the actual figure now, pressing your lips together. 30,000 eb, that was what you had to your name at the moment. It...wasn't a substantial figure, but one that could last for a bit while you got your life sorted out. Or perhaps provide for a significant purchase, like a cheap nomad truck to live out of. You might have to end up doing so if you didn't fancy living in some filthy cube in an Arasaka megafacility.
A sigh escaped your lips when the car arrived at its destination. You climbed out and grabbed your roller suitcase, idly watching it depart without any further hesitation. You turned now to the train station you found yourself in, a relatively quiet transit point in Kyoto. It wasn't a major one, but from here you could take a train to connect to...anywhere. An airport. A harbor. More train networks. It all depended on what you were feeling.
You blinked when you approached the turnstile and realized you already had an access ticket attached to your identification, one that granted you unlimited travel in one direction for a day. You supposed this had to be another farewell gift from Lycoris and passed through without comment from the ticket booth. You walked a little further into the station, blending seamlessly with the crowds of others going about their day to day business. Your eyes instinctively flicked and spotted the bored security guard on duty in the station, his eyes glowing to perhaps indicate he was in a casual call. Your eyes focused on him and indeed identified him as a disgraced police officer, having only resigned from the force only last month.
Which meant that he obliviously didn't notice the mugger approaching a man in a corporate suit in the station lockers. There was no weapon on display, but the arms gleamed an obvious silver chrome of cyberware, and that was a danger in itself. You hissed and your arm began to move back on instinct-
Then your wrist was caught in a tight grip that had you flinch. You turned about with an accusatory expression, only to falter at the sight of the individual you would have thought least likely to stop you. "Tis not our glory," Mitsu mumbled and nodded at the scene. "Tis her honor. Witness."
You blinked and saw it. The moment the mugger was about to cross the last stretch to approach the corporate suit, he was suddenly tackled into by a girl in a familiar school uniform, shoving the would-be criminal into an open locker. The suit was so engrossed in his call that he didn't hear the distinct clicks of a suppressed pistol firing, nor the clang of a locker door slamming shut.
The Lycoris bent over for a moment, catching their breath, then straightened up with a satisfied grin at a job well done. The corpo walked away none the wiser and she perhaps took pride in not having been spotted at all. That was, until she realized you were looking on and almost panicked. You chuckled and showed off your schoolbag and recognition dawned on the younger Lycoris, along with a hint of awe. She bowed once your way, then scurried off to perhaps her next assignment.
You hummed and resisted the urge to approach the locker to begin packaging up the body. That used to be your job, but not anymore. Instead, you looked at Mitsu with a raised eyebrow and question on your lips. "I'm surprised you haven't already left yet. Is something the matter?"
"Nay, we simply wished to gather one last time before parting ways!" She pointed and you followed, soon realizing that over in a small lounge area was a set of familiar faces. Both Arisu and Momiji waved you over and you obliged, taking a seat along with Mitsu to finalize the group of four graduates. "Now then, our final gathering!"
"For now," Arisu added and drummed her fingers on the table. "We'll definitely see one another again someday. There's no reason for us to drift out of contact either."
"And like, we have each other's deets," Momiji giggled and waggled her finger. "I'll like, ring you up all the time! When I'm not busy, I really wanna chat with my chooms!"
You raised an eyebrow at how apparently easily your former colleague had adapted to the slang of the streets. She certainly picked up quickly, a hint of her acting abilities perhaps. Meanwhile, Mitsu's speech patterns were more traditional in comparison. "Alas, you may not hear from me at times. I intend to drift here and there, mayhaps out of service in and out. But you may see me drop by should the occasion call!"
The three then turned to you and you coughed, realizing that it was your turn to speak up. "I'll try to keep in touch, but I might be busy for some time. I've got some plans in my head that I want to act on."
"I do have to study for the college exams as well," Arisu mused and shrugged. "So I'll probably set myself to focus on that for a bit. Afterwards, if you need a Netrunner for something, just hit me up. I'll welcome any form of payment if it can help with college tuition."
"Payment rendered for services, indeed!" Mitsu promised but frowned. "Though I admittedly may run short with what I have in mind. A good mount to take me far is...costly."
"Like, it's annoying, but it's life," Momiji drawled with a shake of the head. "Everything in Japan is crazy expensive, cuz like, it's all fresh. All preem. So much stuff, too little eddies!"
"We could always just blame Arasaka for all that," You dryly proposed and that garnered a laugh from your fellows. There was nobody here with a hidden love for the largest megacorporation in Japan, especially after the mysterious passing of Arasaka Saburo and the rise of his son, Yorinobu. "Have you heard anything lately on whatever happened in Arasaka Tower? All that chaos, but still no statement from them."
"Believe me, I've tried, but I think the general internal attitude is similar confusion," Arisu mentioned with a shrug. "It's weird. Some stories claim that an entire Nomad Clan broke in. Others say it was a group of experienced mercs via an AV. One really bizarre report claims that it was just one daring soul who strolled right through the entrance, and began to just wreck the place without pause."
"Night City's like, weird," Momiji mumbled while Mitsu beamed.
"Mayhaps my wanderings will take me there one day!" She turned to you and tilted a head curiously. "Speaking of which, I do have some curiosity where you will go next. You've learned of our plans, now we shall learn of yours!"
You frowned and looked away, thinking on it for a moment. Then you decided that it was only right to be honest with them as they had with you. "I'm...thinking of selling my talent. Maybe even going and making a business myself," You admitted to an interested group. "Not sure what it'll be yet, but I'm thinking of being someplace different. Maybe a place for other Lycoris."
"A noble ambition!" Mitsu crowed.
"That's like, so preem," Momiji praised.
"Where?" Arisu pressed.
You tapped your fingers on your suitcase before answering.
[ ] [City] Kyoto: You're actually staying in the city of flowers! Kyoto is a remarkably traditional city that has purposefully limited and capped corporate growth in favor of preserving its ancient sights. There is a distinct lack of megabuildings amid preserved historic sights, such as Kyoto Tower. It is also one of the safest cities in Japan, thanks to the efforts of Lycoris. However, this comes at the price of forever being somewhat stuck in the past, with its limited growth also hindering economic development.
[ ] [City] Tokyo: The shining gem and capital of Japan, Tokyo is the total apex of corporate domination in the nation. The streets below may still radiate neon with petty crime and gangs, but they pale in comparison to the giants that make this city their playground, least of all Arasaka themselves. But if one can stomach the hyper corporate atmosphere, there are riches to be made around each and every corner for the opportunistic and daring.
[ ] [City] Sapporo: Far up north in the snowy island of Hokkaido, Sapporo is a city of industry that never rests even when winter sets in. Urban industrialization is spread out across the vast tracts of rugged wilderness, leading into the odd creation of district communities that often compete fiercely with one another. One could disappear for weeks on end in the forests, then emerge to participate in fierce gang wars that last only so long as until nearby JDF bases take action and mobilize their iron fist.
[ ] [City] Kagoshima: In the warm southern island of Kyushu, Kagoshima is a cosmopolitan hub of so many different cultures mashed together over the long years. It has led to a varied and colorful scene on the streets with a fierce international competition up top. The city's growth has even expanded to the teeming waters as well, leading to a dizzying agricultural scene amid the urban landscape. Not all grown here are legal though.
- Should be the last bit of getting started, then you'll be dumped into the world to live your life. You'll be contacting a rental agency on the ride over to the city to help figure out what your living options will be. Unless you believe Yuuki is willing to put her life in an Arasaka cube with minimal security and near daily muggings.
[X] [City] Kagoshima: In the warm southern island of Kyushu, Kagoshima is a cosmopolitan hub of so many different cultures mashed together over the long years. It has led to a varied and colorful scene on the streets with a fierce international competition up top. The city's growth has even expanded to the teeming waters as well, leading to a dizzying agricultural scene amid the urban landscape. Not all grown here are legal though.
"I'll be going to Kagoshima," You decided firmly. That incited a series of impressed whistles from the others, and Arisu spoke up first.
"A subtropical environment would be perfect for your dream, I think," She warmly commented with a smile. "With the right setup, you could maybe even grow flowers all year-round. That's pretty smart."
"But it's like, so hot!" Momiji exclaimed with a shake of the head. "I would totally melt. Yeah, it's isn't my scene."
"Word has it that the gangs of Kagoshima are rather unique!" Mitsu mentioned with shining eyes. "I wish to cross blades with them one day!"
"I'll save you a spot in the guest room for that," You joked and all the gathered Lycoris chuckled at the thought. "I'll be traveling on a dirigible over."
"Oh, that's pretty preem!" Momiji blinked, then frowned. "Um, like, which one?"
"Which one?" You repeated with a tilt of the head, then scrolled through the departures list through your optics. "Let's see, should be the...Southern Express."
Your former colleague's eyes widened. "Choom, that's like, leaving in an hour. Train ride to the airport's like, forty minutes. You better delta!"
You stared, then blanched. You had been so caught-up in conversing with everybody that you lost track of time. The chair clattered backwards while you scrambled to your feet and grabbed your luggage. "If I miss out on the next train, I might miss the flight-!"
"Never fear!" Suddenly Mitsu was there and she suddenly swept you off your feet, her hand shooting out to also grab your luggage. You squeaked and stared at her intense gaze, one of pure focus as her cyberware activated. "Brace thyself!"
One moment, you were there at the table with the others.
The next, you were suddenly on the top platform.
The next, you found yourself soaring through the air, Mitsu carrying you through a powerful leap across a set of moving trains.
Then you nearly fell out of her arms when she landed right next to a moving train, gasping for breath. "Curses!" She swore and you noticed it was your train already departing the station. The doors were already closed shut, meaning you couldn't board now. You grimaced, if you'd only noticed a moment later-!
Then suddenly the train halted and the door slid open, invoking confusion from the passengers within. You blinked, then noticed one of the digital monitors inside the passenger car suddenly flashing black before a pixelated white rabbit waved at you before disappearing. Immediately, you knew it was your colleague Netrunner who had stopped the automated train from leaving, enabling you to get onboard.
You did so immediately, with Mitsu hurrying with your luggage. It was not a moment too soon and the doors closed right behind her. The train then began to move again and you let out a sigh of relief, now able to catch your flight on time. "That was close."
"Indeed, twas a close cut!" Mitsu told and you shared a small smile, wanting to thank her for getting you here-
Then you realized something and blinked. "Mitsu, you're here."
The street ronin raised an eyebrow. "So I am."
"Are you going to Kagoshima with me?"
She opened her mouth, then her eyes grew wide when she too connected the dots. She blinked and looked around, perhaps realizing now that she was committed to a train ride to the airport like you. "...I hadn't intended on it, but maybe fate decreed it so!" Mitsu finally suggested and placed her hands on her hips proudly. "A little longer journey together then! I don't mind so long as it is fruitful."
Then an idea struck you and the words tumbled from your lips without thinking about it. "How about you live with me? At least for a little while."
She stared at you, a myriad of emotions flickering through her face that registered in your optical system. Embarrassment. Shock. Surprise. Confusion.
You bit your lip and looked away for a moment, glancing back when you noticed movement out of the corner of your eye. Mitsu was tapping her foot incessantly, seemingly using it as a way to help get her thoughts organized. There was an expression of deep conflict written all over her expression, one that seemingly warred between wandering the world, or sticking around a bit longer with you. Now that you thought about it, there was no way she would accept, not when it was clearly her dream to wander the world. You exhaled through your teeth and figured it was only polite to respect her decision-
"Very well!" Mitsu decided and grinned when you looked back at her. "If only for a little while for now. I concede to your offer...partner!"
You blinked in shock yourself, then looked down at her extended hand. Slowly, you reached up and grasped her wrist, returning her grin with one yours. "Right then...partner. Let's head for Kagoshima together."
Traveling by dirigible was certainly an experience, you reflected. You looked sideways to see the vast blue sky beyond you, your seat not giving a good enough angle to see the ground below. That had gone to Mitsu, who were ogling and pressing her face against the glass to watch the landscape go on by. "The fields roll before us, rustling in our wake," She muttered with clear fascination. "A scene from the heavens, one that cannot be seen from those below. How breathtaking."
There was a complicated note to her voice, perhaps thinking herself as normally being one of those down below. You had to admit, Mitsu did give off nomad vibes, the type to just drift from place to place without care, taking in the sights as they went. And now, I'm maybe holding her back, A small guilty part of you whispered and you looked away, not ready to confront it just yet.
Maybe you were just being selfishly lonely.
A welcomed distraction came in the form of a small pamphlet in your seat compartment. It was an advertisement rental corporate company in Kagoshima, targeting specifically at people moving to the city. You supposed that included you and dialed the number on the paper, using the dirigible's built-in service tower to connect.
A few dial tones later, your call was picked up and you almost wanted to roll your eyes at the automated response. "Thank you for calling Satsuma Properties...you are now caller number 30 in line…"
"Oh?" There was a nudge at your side and you turned to see Mitsu looking curiously on. You tilted her head and wordlessly sent a connection request, one that she accepted. She was less restrained about her reaction and rolled her eyes dramatically at the droning automated tone. "So too are we plagued with the burden of housing, like so many others."
"I'm guessing that they likely are going over options in details in the other calls, taking payment plans and the like." You studied the pamphlet and made a face. "Oh, but most generously, we can skip ahead in line for the low price of 500 eddies...per position."
"That's a total of 1500 down the drain if we do so…"
"You are now caller number 50 in line…"
"Hah? We went back?!" Mitsu growled, her glowing eyes none too pleased. "Fools paying for the line skip pushed us back!"
You groaned, then blinked at a small fine print text. "'Personalized service guaranteed for those flying executive class.' That's us, isn't it?" You carefully dialed a series of numbers through the call that verified your seat position and waited. It wasn't even a minute later before the awful hold was replaced with the voice of a real human.
"Thank you honored customer for reaching out to us! How can Satsuma Properties service you today?!" They spoke, slightly out of breath, and you realized that perhaps they immediately rushed over to your call the moment it was verified through. Before you could speak up, Mitsu did so in your place with clear eagerness.
"We seek lodgings of a permanent arrangement, one fitting of proven heroes!" You shot her a warning look but let her go on, the truth and lies closely woven together. "From Kyoto to Kagoshima, present us your best!"
"Well, er, I'll do my best. Let's see, let's see…!" There was some clicking in the background, then your vision lit up with various property listings complete with detailing and pictures. "Based on what you've said, here's what we've got available right now- oh, oh no!"
You blinked when the last entry, one that seemed to feature a very nice looking shophouse suddenly disappeared from the listings. Mitsu was first to speak up about it. "What plagued you so?"
"My deepest apologies, but that last listing is actually not available. Scavs took it over last week, and we haven't had the opportunity to contact security to clear them out. Please, look at your other options instead."
The other options did look enticing in themselves, featuring a variety of living quarters in different parts of Kagoshima. Where you chose to live would definitely affect your budget, along with who you could meet nearby. If you decided to open up a business, it also likely influenced what sort of customers you could expect to stroll in.
Yet despite it all, you still had a faint curiosity about the shophouse. Mitsu apparently shared the same sentiment and spoke out first about it, always taking the initiative. "Might we trouble you so to see that lost option?" She asked, giving you a knowing smile. "And should we happen to reclaim it ourselves, would you be open to a discount?"
"A discount? Are you yanking on my- hang on. If I frame it as saving our security budget…" There were some mutterings, then the agent on the line finally sighed and re-added the shophouse to your options. "If you fail, I'm not calling Trauma Team for you."
"So noted," You dryly remarked and studied the options to make a final decision.
[ ] [Home] Converted Warehouse: Located in the Kiire District, specifically near Taniymako Ports, a retired warehouse has since been converted into a surprisingly open living space not unlike the old Silverhand Studios. You and Mitsu could probably share a two-room living space with a rather romantic view of the harbor. Corporate Zone. Rent: 1800 900 eb/month
[ ] [Home] Tatami Room: There's an opening for a simple room in a small property, one with plenty of nearby shops through Hayato Strip in Kirishima District. It might be a little cramped with Mitsu and you in a single room, but it could be worth the slight discomfort and awkwardness of such close living space. Moderate Zone. Rent: 400 200 eb/month
[ ] [Home] Former Vinyard: A large stretch of arable land along with a rather sizable villa, what a find! Yet the price definitely had both you and Mitsu wincing, for luxury certainly cost in Il Syracuse of Kanoya District. Executive Zone: 16000 8000 eb/month
[ ] [Home] Scav Shophouse: This one is something that would normally never be considered an option, a former corporate shophouse in Kamoh Gardens of Yoshida District. It could have been a pleasant home once, before scavs took over and made it difficult for anybody to live in. Difficult for anybody...if they weren't a Lycoris. Moderate Zone. Rent: 20001600 800 eb/month
- When the first die of a quest is a happy one, that makes me happy as well. Yay.
- The strikeouts represent either the discount, or splitting the rent with Mitsu. She's only your roommate at the moment, though she might be amicable to being employed by your shop if you have a good enough offer. Otherwise though. she'll figure out a way to pay her own share of the rent through her own means.
Four hour moratorium to figure out where to rent.
You shielded your eyes instinctively, but it was of little help when the full scope of Kagoshima's subtropical climate washed over you the moment you stepped off the dirigible. It was intensely warm, just about as hot as Kyoto's hottest days despite it just being only the start of spring in the country. You grimaced and made a mental note to reevaluate your wardrobe to make sure you could adapt to this new environment. Perhaps a hat wasn't such a bad idea-
Almost immediately, you felt something gently pop over your hair and blinked at the sudden nice cool shade. You reached up and felt the large plain straw hat, then turned to see Mitsu sporting a matching set. She grinned and pointed to a shop selling them right in the airport terminal itself, at a markup that made you wince. Your partner noticed and simply shrugged. "Tis likely the price will be likewise throughout the city. The merchant knows their value and their customer, and strikes in manner befitting their station.."
"That they do," You sighed and made to open a connection to send over some of your money. Mitsu frowned and denied the request, shaking her head. "What? I'm paying for my hat."
"A gift!" She insisted and grasped your wrists, bringing them up to meet her hands. "A token of our partnership, I insist!"
You stared into her amber eyes and blinked, taken aback by the gesture. It was a...strange feeling, to be gifted something so casually. Perhaps it was the fact that as a Cleaner, you usually worked more with corpses than the living, even with your squad. You looked away and coughed awkwardly, not sure what to say. Then out of the corner of your eye, you spied something approaching you.
Mitsu noticed as well and your clasped hands were broken to face the robot with corporate branding. "Identification: Anzai Yuuki. Ryouji Mitsu. Playing greeting message…Welcome to Kagoshima!" The machine threw up its hands in what you supposed was a welcoming manner. "Thank you for renting with Satsuma Properties! We appreciate your choice of business and wish you a pleasant stay. Awaiting deposit."
You shared a look with Mitsu and nodded, eyes lighting up as you both wired the first and last month's rent for your new home.
-1600 eb (30000 -1600 = 28400 eb)
"Deposit received! Now presenting: Unit 622." A portion of the robot's midsection suddenly extended out and a tray slid out, with a set of keys and datashards. "Please claim your unit package."
You gingerly took the keys and one of the shards while Mitsu claimed the other. Once the items had been removed from the tray, the robot blankly nodded, then stiffly marched to the next person getting off the dirigible to repeat the message. The datashared looked cleaned enough and you slotted it into your neck, letting it connect with your cyberware.
After a moment of loading, information began to flow quickly through your head and you grimaced, feeling the effects of too much coming through at once. You paused the dump of data and glanced over to Mitsu, who was similarly massaging her head with similar symptoms. "A welcomed brief, but an aching one," She complained and you nodded in agreement.
Then you spied a cafe from the corner of your eye and gestured. "Let's go and have a cup of tea to relax. We can sit down and review it all in leisure. My treat, to make up for the hats."
She brightened up at your offer. "A splendid idea! I'll take chai!"
There actually wasn't any sitting room left, as all the tables were occupied already by a mix of people. In fact, there wasn't a seat anywhere in the airport, all the options occupied by an eclectic amount of people. Corporate suits growled and barked in private phone calls while casual travelers slumbered away next to them. People wearing braindance wreaths sat slumped next to folk who seemed more metal than flesh, poorly concealed firearms poking through heavy leather. In the end, you and Mitsu settled for leaning up against a structural pillar outside the airport, steaming hot drinks in hand.
You sipped at yours and frowned at its artificial flavoring. Mitsu seemed to hardly care and relished the taste while you took the opportunity to browse the information on the datashards. "It's all about the neighborhood we're moving into," You commented, your vision flicking through various images and pictures. "Kamoh Gardens, a low-end middle class area. The very low end of corporate suits, but impressive enough for the folks on the streets. It's considered a suburban residential area."
"A former lord's abode in the past, only to be churned and converted into housing for the masses," Mitsu mentioned from her own study. "Masses then. Luxurious today."
"The fact that we have more than two rooms to our name is something for sure," You agreed and reviewed the building's recent history. "Seems like before the Scavs decided to take it over, the place was actually a private cafe with private living space above. Something that's honestly somewhat traditional and outdated these days, but could suit a certain lifestyle well enough."
"Oh! It even has a private front and rear gardens!" Your partner eagerly noticed. "We can even decorate or repurpose as we see fit! A training space, excellent!"
"Or for a garden," You mumbled and focused more on the interior details. "A large customer space below, along with a service counter. A private service area. A simple storage room. Then stairs leading up-"
"We have a second floor?!"
"We have a second floor, and that's the living area. Five blank rooms that we can fill with for anything. Bathroom included." You were slightly taken aback by how seemingly perfect this location was for your needs. Maybe a little too perfect. You suspected that had the Scavs not taken it over, it likely would've already been rented off the market. That got you to frown when a thought surfaced, one that had your eyes narrowing in suspicion.
Why had the Scavs chosen this place to be their den? It was far from urban centers where they normally would work their foul business, kidnapping one of many off the streets with nary a notice. In this suburb area though, wouldn't the police notice and immediately take action? It felt off, and you searched deeper, eyes flashing through local tidbits.
(Den Suspicions: 8 +15 (Intelligence) = 23)
In the end, you couldn't find anything, even on local news sites. It felt like they had suddenly appeared out of nowhere to take this building over and you shook your head. "It feels a bit odd that the Scavs would break into this place and stick around," You suggested to Mitsu who tilted her head in consideration. "I would've thought somewhere else would've been a better hit."
"Tis the logic of the insane, but one must be insane to walk their path," She darkly mentioned with a growl. Clearly their lifestyle offended her sense of righteousness. "Must we justify our strike? Tis a public service, clearly."
"A public service that might get us busted by local law enforcement," You reminded with a raised eyebrow. "This isn't Kyoto where we have channels to whisper to the locals to not panic. We're unknown here, and gunshots will definitely draw attention."
Mitsu grinned and patted the wrapped bamboo sword on her back. "Then we don't use guns. Come, I'll teach you the Way!"
"Maybe another time, but not before we get settled in." You pursued your lips in thought and leafed through the datashard, focusing on local highlights. "Local police is...oh. Oh dear."
"What ails you?"
"The entire district is outsourced to Corporate Police," You groaned and your fellow Lycoris let her head tilt back to hit the pillar in exasperation. You felt like copying the gesture and stared at who was in charge. "Shinohara Securities, a subsidiary of Arasaka. Kami."
"Law enforcement that speaks only in coin!" Mitsu whined. "Not justice, but coin! What perversion!"
"It means that our government permits will only protect us from getting arrested for possession, but likely do nothing for accessing their armories." You clucked your tongue and filed that information away. "Guess that actually explains why they wouldn't care about Scavs in a middle-class neighborhood, they're not paid enough to care. Only thing that'll move them is if we toss enough money their way to 'persuade' them to look our way."
"Or hope for justice to shine through in hearts," Mitsu weakly suggested, but even she sounded very unsure about that. You sighed, then realized with a bitter bite that your police assessment system wouldn't be working until you got a backdoor to their servers, somehow. Perhaps at a massive 'fee,' because Corporate Police were like that. That was going to be a pain. You noted that down and moved on to alternative sources that could prove of aid.
"At least it means that if we go guns shooting, they probably wouldn't respond. Probably. Let's look for what could help with that." You rubbed your chin at an interesting mention about the area. "Looks like the neighborhood is 'claimed' by the Secondborn Ronin, with even what is speculated to be their headquarters in the area. We could try to approach them to see if they could lend some of their help."
"Secondborn Ronin...meh," Mitsu decided with a shake of the head. "They are ronin in name only, for they show little honor. Ah, but the Vendettas-!"
"Portray themselves as honorable, but seem to just enjoy killing if the coin's right," You bluntly retorted, earning a sniff from your partner. "They've been trying to push into the area to expand their operations area, which means they'll probably leave more bodies in their wake than the local gang."
"They have a code that matters," Mitsu grumbled, clearly favoring them more. Then she lit up with an idea. "Ah, but we could balance them both! Let us seek out an individual who offers a special service, a Fixer I believe!"
"A Fixer? That could help," You considered with a nod. "One in the neighborhood would probably have ties to the Secondborn Ronin, but still be independent enough to take contracts from anywhere. If there's a gig out on the Scavs, they might be able to task us with it in return for their favor."
"Or we do it as a greeting gift to them!" The Lycoris ronin proposed with a grin. "A show of our intent to them!"
"Yes, we gift them a bloody bouquet," You dryly quipped and hummed, checking the time. You did want to clear out the Scavs before the end of the day to have someplace to sleep, so there was time to maybe approach some, but not all of your options. That is, if you wanted to approach anybody at all- a show of independence while taking care of the issue would certainly be quite the statement. After a moment, you told Mitsu who you wanted to approach.
- I'll say that once you get a backdoor somehow, it'll be a permanent restoration of your linked assessment system because officially, it can't exist. Your access will be a grey area that can never be patched out once you're in.
- Remember to consider what the gangs are known for/what they can offer if you approach them.
- I'll update the faction sheet on them later, but for now, the dice are saying that Sinohara Securities is a very small, but super elite security unit. They can't cover everywhere all at once, but if they come, it's the full Arasaka subsidiary hammer that makes C-SWAT blush. Fits the neighborhood, actually.
- The two highest votes will be considered. 'None' will only be taken if it is the most popular vote.
Mitsu's nose bumped against the train window as she tried to get a better look at the passing surroundings. "Tis nothing like Kyoto!" She eagerly mentioned and squished her cheek against the glass to get another angle of the massive skyscrapers and megastructures. "They reach for the sky, a tower to the heavens themselves! Never before have I borne witness to such engineering!"
"Kyoto does have building limits to keep it mostly traditional," You explained and pointed at how so many of the aforementioned buildings had company logos. "Even Arasaka itself had to concede and respect the ancient city's history over emphasizing their grandeur. It's probably the only city in Japan limited in such manner, and we're finally seeing what it's like elsewhere."
"Hm, there is indeed a serene and quiet beauty to Kyoto that resonates so strongly. But here too, I see beauty in its own right!" Your partner gestured to the bustling streets below the rail network. "A concrete jungle has too its own flowers, strange and off-putting as they may be. If the towers are towering trees, then those that grow between are what rises up in aspiration to reach such lofty heights. The attempt may be futile, but it is in purpose they discover themselves for what they are."
You blinked and tilted your head, not quite understanding her flowery manner. But you supposed that perhaps Mitsu knew all too well that in the shadow of corporations, one either declared themselves sated and lived forward in darkness...or broke free and tried to blaze forward to glory, even if it meant their death. 'Edgerunners' they were called, and they often were agents of the chaos that Lycoris was created to silence.
You supposed though that now, it wasn't your job to go after them. Not unless you had good reason or in self-defense. That was a refreshing thought, as said persons were often classified as the highest danger level owing to unpredictable tactics and cyberware to achieve results. It almost was a direct opposite of how Lycoris often had standardized implants and training to fulfill their duties.
Maybe that was why you were so much more comfortable with approaching corporate security for aid. It was only a short walk from the train station to the massive skyscraper bearing the Arasaka logo. If your local brief was correct, the offices of Shinohara Securities were among the top floors for easy AV access. That meant though you'd have to be let in if you wanted to have a meeting.
Almost immediately upon stepping into the building's lobby, your eyes flicked about and noticed how a lot of security turrets suddenly swiveled to face your way, tracking your every step to the greeting receptionist. You guessed that the building security was just a little bit twitchy, and ironically, they'd be right given the skill of a Lycoris operative in their element. But you were being above board today and let Mitsu speak when the carefully sculpted receptionist finish her greeting.
"We seek an audience with Shinohara Securities!" She declared and crossed her arms. "There is injustice that must be addressed!"
"Do you have an appointment?" The receptionist calmly intoned, as if reciting from a script. Her next sentence all but confirmed it. "If you do not, then you will need to make one through the proper channels first. Otherwise, I cannot let you in if you do not have the prerequisite entry pass."
You shared a nod with your partner, then both sets of eyes glowed as both she and you digitally flashed your government identification. "This should suffice as to our entry pass," You told and watched her reaction.
What was likely a fake plastic smile melted quickly into genuine surprise and shock when the receptionist ran your credentials and they all came up clean. "I...I will need to make a call. Excuse me." Her own eyes lit up and yours did as well as you idly engaged your opticware. You could see the minute traces of panic in her facial expressions, clearly not knowing what to do when presented with 'authentic' government authorizations.
Finally, she shakily got up and bowed at you while gesturing with a hand. "Please, the elevator! Shinohara Securities will be waiting for you!"
"Most excellent!" Mitsu trumpeted and took the lead. You stayed behind a moment to give a friendly nod to the awestruck receptionist and followed in your partner's wake. Soon, a small metal box containing two Lycoris agents was skyrocketing up to the top floors of the Arasaka skyscraper, a feat that many Edgerunners would have died trying to do.
The doors slid open with a quiet ding and welcoming you on the destined floor was a grumpy looking woman in a mix of a suit and combat gear. "Out with it," She immediately barked the moment you stepped out into the offices. "What the hell are you gonks doing here? I sure as shit wasn't expecting government agents to stroll up so brazenly today! You looking for trouble?"
"So quick to get to business?" Mitsu lightly teased, then struck lightning quick before her joke infuriated the clearly stressed corporate security member. "We are present to talk about many things, from purchasing spare ammunition to tackling on a Scav Den. Could we mayhaps have a chat with your Security Chief?"
You nodded in agreement, still slightly annoyed at your lack of profiling ability. You just needed a moment to jack into the right server, then you'd be connected to the greater Kagoshima police databases. It would make it so much easier to figure out who you were talking to, if they even had pull to call for their boss-
"You're looking at her!" Security Chief Azumi growled. Both Mitsu and you started at the revelation while the leader of Shinohara Securities glared at the two young women. "So spit it out, and if you're wasting my time, I'll throw you in our interrogation room to weasel out who sent you."
"A-ah." Mitsu cleared her throat. "Very well." Quickly, she outlined what you were here to do, from seeking the opportunity to purchase spare armory supplies to cleaning out the Scavs that infested your new home. She made sure to throw in a casual mention for database access for you, and you helped make sure she didn't slip up and mention Lycoris in any way.
When she was finished, Azumi tapped her foot and frowned. Her eyes lit up as she seemingly made a call to somebody, perhaps whoever in the primary body of Arasaka she reported to. You could only hope she was asking for permission to grant your requests.
After what felt like a small eternity, the glow from her eyes faded and Azumi studied the two of you. "...you really aren't pencil pushers, that's for sure," She finally decided and pressed for an easy test. "You two seem like you know your way around iron. Care to prove it?"
With matching casual flicks to shake your schoolbags open, you and Mitsu drew your matching pistols with perfected precision, keeping the barrels safely pointed low to the ground. Azumi whistled and gestured for you two to follow. "I've seen enough. You two are the real deal, and my bosses aren't willingly to piss off the feds when your IDs came up clean."
"So our requests shall be honored?" Mitsu eagerly asked while tucking away her piece. "We will have all we need?"
"You'll have what I can spare and what you're allowed to have, at the very least." You passed on by some others who were wearing the same formal combat attire, who gave curious stares at your passage and escort by their leader. "Let's see. First of all, something that's definitely not an issue. We rarely use up all of our allocated light pistol ammunition, and I can frame you buying some of it as a partial return on expenditure. If it's just for your Towa 14, we can probably just provide it at regular price."
"That sounds agreeable," You told and she nodded before moving onto something you also happened to really want.
"Now then, it says you need access to the profiling database. That honestly isn't an issue, given that you already have the necessary credentials. It's not even connected to the main Arasaka servers, only the regional police ones, so it's not like you can sneak a demon in to fry our systems. There's an access port in the armory, so you'll just need to jack in there."
You grinned, quite satisfied with that. And you didn't even have to pay a bribe? It seemed that Shinohara Securities wasn't so daunting as initially thought. Azumi in particular seemed to be treating you with kid gloves, and you had a good idea why.
So did your partner. "This is most generous of you!" Mitsu excitedly mentioned with a tilt of the head. "Almost too much so, like a honeyed trap meant to stick us together."
"Is it that obvious?" Azumi mentioned with a snort. "You have skill, you are listed as being freelancers. If I could interest you two in at least showing up for half our ops or even doing street patrol duty, we'd have better reach over Kamoh Gardens. Keep telling upper management that, but they keep denying my damn requests."
"An interesting proposal," You neutrally replied, then pushed a little harder. "Is that all you wanted?"
Azumi became quiet when the group reached the armory and she let the scanners verify her identity. While it did so, she finally spoke up with a hint of anger. "That place, that cafe...I used to be a regular when I was younger. Friends with the old owners before we drifted apart due to my job. Always wondered what happened to it, hoped they were doing well. Promised myself I'd visit one day, have a cup of coffee to catch up.
"Then you come in and tell me the first bit of news I've heard in years about it, and that it's been taken over by Scavs." The armory door slid open and the Security Chief stomped in, clear rage and fury coursing through her form. "Taken over by bakas who probably don't appreciate what a good cup can do after a long shift keeping the streets safe. Who probably only just get their sick jollies and kicks from ripping chrome from unfortunate souls in the area.
"So yeah, I want something else. And I'm willing to give you database access for free, if it makes it easier for you to do just a little thing for me." She reached into the access port and nearly ripped the cable out while offering it to you with shaking hands. "I want you to zero the fucking Scavs. Show no mercy."
You smiled and took the cable, plugging it into your interface port and letting your Lycoris credentials slip into the system. "I think we can do that." It wasn't even a moment later before your vision finally felt complete with your profiling system in full effect. A quick check of your host confirmed it so.
"Good. Now take what you need, and get to work. If you can get rid of them all, I'll talk to my superiors about opening up our armories to further purchases. Oh, and don't worry about making a spectacle of it- we'll make sure it'll just be filed under noise complaints."
"That went splendidly!" Mitsu chirped when you two strolled out of the building. "We have our first ally of justice!"
"One who has a personal grudge against the Scavs, no less," You agreed with a nod. "What fortune. We've also secured armory access for our pistols if nothing else, with possible future purchases if we do well. As much as we like to mock them, Arasaka does have some good equipment."
"Especially their blades," Your partner drooled. "All those beautiful swords, right there...it took all in me to just not take one there and then! Oh, to wield one of them as an agent of justice-!"
You let out a small giggle and patted her back. "Maybe they'll sell you one after we pull this off. For now, we should focus back on what we have to do next."
"Ah yes, we must seek out the service of that who they call a Fixer!" Mitsu paused, then looked to you with a sheepish expression. "Er, would you happen to know how so?"
You pressed your lips together and shook your head. "We'll just have to head to the area and see if we can possibly pick up on the information from the streets. I'm thinking we ask around, a Fixer often doesn't need to hide their street reputation if people are looking for them. You can't service people who've never heard of you, after all."
"A wise strategy! Let us carry it without further delay."
(Fixer Hunt: 66 +12 (Cool) = 78)
You immediately got results right away when you began to casually approach a few in student uniforms on the trains to the Kamoh Gardens. From what you knew of Secondborn Ronin, they were a surprisingly mild street gang in comparison to many others and were more like petty educated thieves than anything. So all you had to do was ask politely, weather their searching look with a patient smile, and they'd finally tell you that there was indeed a good Fixer in the area if you needed one. You knew it was the real thing when you approached multiple different groups and they all had the same answer.
If you need something taken care of, ask for 'Pauper' at the public library in Kamoh Gardens. A Fixer affiliated with the Secondborn Ronin who was notoriously face-shy, but reliable.
Mitsu met with you and confirmed she had heard the same thing, so that was your destination now. The public library was a modestly sized building in the neighborhood, built with the intended audience of students and families in mind. There were a few rougher looking individuals hanging about outside, but they seemed to actually be part of the Secondborn Ronin with more lax uniforms compared to the rest. You gave them a searching look and your cyberware helpfully noted that they were delinquents of a more physical sort. The gang muscle enforcement perhaps, on loan to the fixer.
The group noticed your stare and gave a single warning nod in return, perhaps a reminder to watch your behavior inside. You had little doubt that the Fixer already knew you were looking for them, with how you hardly disguised your approach. That was fine, as you were sure that most Fixers had very little love for Scavs. Few in general did, and they were those who worked with Scavs for vile acts.
The library on the inside was like many of the era, filled with shelf after shelf of datashards and data terminals to jack into for more immersed sessions. Small children were wearing braindance wreaths to experience comic books through their mind while a few student groups were all entirely linked to one another via a data terminal, comatose to the world while participating in a private study session. You idly wondered that were you a few years young and not a Lycoris, would you have been like one of them? Jacked into a terminal along with Mitsu, Arisu, and Momiji, sharing a mind to study for exams? Perhaps that was what Arisu was actually doing now to prepare for her college exams.
You shook your head from that idea and turned to an assistant librarian manning a help booth. "We're here to see 'Pauper,' I believe."
The assistant librarian frowned confusedly. "'Pauper?' Who's that?"
"Somebody who could provide us a service we need!" Mitsu chimed in, but still, the assistant librarian looked befuddled.
"I mean, can't you just call whoever your friend is?" She asked and looked between you two with growing wariness. "Sorry, I can't help you more than that. Maybe have a seat and see if they show up, whoever it is?"
You and Mitsu looked at each other before you sighed and took the initiative. "Fine. We'll sit around and wait for them."
The assistant librarian once again apologized she couldn't be of more help and you waved it off. You two wandered over to a random empty table and sat down, not sure where to go from here. "Tis difficult to get in touch with somebody whose existence is here, but not here," Mitsu complained and you shrugged.
"Maybe we should've tried to approach the Secondborn Ronin directly instead of this. But there has to be some method that this 'Pauper' works off if everybody refers us to here," You reasoned. "Besides, they wouldn't turn away potential customers, would they?"
"That very depends on what sort of customers you are." A heavily distorted voice suddenly called out and the data terminal at your table suddenly turned on, showing the simple visage of a book with an eerie face etched into the cover. Both you and Mitsu flinched at the unexpected sight, hands nearly instinctively reaching for your guns. "Please keep your voices down while we do business. That is the protocol here."
"I...see. 'Pauper,' right?" You cautiously asked. "You're a Fixer?"
"I have been called so. I provide services that one can pay for. Sometimes, the role is reversed and I pay for services. Which do you seek today?"
Quickly, you explained the issue about the Scav Den in the area. But when you finished, you could feel it, the lack of interest in the affair. The Fixer's words confirmed it. "Scavs are a constant annoyance that hardly warrants my attention. If you are asking if there is a gig out on them, I do not have one. Sorry to disappoint."
"Then we'll do it as a gift to you!" Mitsu proposed, only to deflate at the response.
"Were you not listening? Again, they hardly warrant my attention. Should you get rid of them, should you leave them be, it is of little matter to me. I have much more that warrant my focus."
"Like what?" You tried to push, hoping to press something out of stone. "Maybe it's something we could look into and trade favors for."
(Pauper Interests: 24 -10 (Scav Annoyance) = 14)
"It does not concern you." The Fixer flatly told and the screen flickered for a moment. "All that I have to offer to you is information about the Scavs, if that is what you wish. Details about their numbers, their arms, their defenses. The upfront cost is 2500 eddies. Non-negotiable."
You winced. You could afford it, but that wasn't cheap. You turned to Mitsu, hoping to split the price, but she had a sour expression on her face that didn't bode well. "We come in and offer a gift, and you spit in our face?" She sniffed and turned up her nose. "I refuse to stain my blade to deal with this affront. Expect nothing forthcoming from me, 'Pauper.'"
"That would require expectation on my part," They drawled. "Take it or leave it. Final offer."
"We'll pass. That information's too much for what we expected," You decided and rose up from your seat. "We'll figure out another way."
"I see. Good luck then." The digital image flickered, then the screen turned off by itself. You rose up from the seat and left the library with Mitsu, slightly frustrated at how rather unfulfilling the meeting had been. The Secondborn Ronin enforcers outside leered, but did nothing when you departed without causing a mess.
Mitsu waited for them to be truly out of earshot before making her complaints known. "What a charlatan!" She muttered and glanced back at the library. "I had thought Fixers to be the lords of the streets, seeking to serve the balance. Yet Pauper barley gave us the time of day, let alone provide aid against a shared enemy. What a miser."
"To be fair, we probably didn't have a solid background to work off," You mentioned and explained when she gave you a confused look. "When we were dealing with Shinohara Securities, we used our government cover to give us an in to personally work an angle. But here, we very well just can't pull out a government ID to wedge our way in, not unless we want to call down the Fixer's entire security network on us."
"They fear authority not of their making."
"Maybe if we had a reputation behind just being a Fed, we could still squeeze in somehow. As it is, we're basically just two random girls who wandered off the street to demand information from a busy Fixer," You summarized with a sigh. "In short, Pauper has no reason to believe our capabilities or our story. For all they know, we very well could be working with the Scavs ourselves, or their rivals to cause a distraction from another affair."
Mitsu grumbled at your logic but her expressions softened slightly, just a bit. "Maybe they do indeed have more pressing concerns," She conceded and crossed her arms with a huff. Then there was a dangerous light in her eyes when she glanced over to you with a sharp grin. "Then let us demonstrate they should see us as maybe a concern too. Two young petals, cleaning up a Scav Den by ourselves!"
"It'll be just like the killing house back in Kyoto," You recalled with a quiet smile before growing serious. "But we should try to do our own research as well, try to stake out the spot before nightfall. Let's see if we can't spot a pattern or opening to them. Maybe even ask our future neighbors if they could offer some useful observations."
"A sound plan! I will follow your lead!"
(New Neighbors: 10 +15 (Empathy) +10 (Local Scavs) = 35)
There was a ramen cart just down the street from your new home that served as a good enough stakeout location. You and Mitsu placed orders for some cheap synthetic noodles with heavy artificial flavoring, and then tried to nudge the owner into opening up a little bit about what he's seen. At first, he was reluctant to talk about them, until you revealed your connection to them. "Why, you're taking over the old cafe?" He asked, surprised. "Not sure why'd you want to do so. It's been pretty abandoned since the last owners closed up shop, at least until those folk moved in."
"Surprised that nobody's done anything about it, honestly," You casually mentioned with a tilt of the head. "Do neither of the gangs round here care about them moving in on their territory?"
"Much as they would love to care, especially if they start klepping members, the two here aren't exactly chooms." He looked around wildly before lowering his voice. "Word is that they're on the verge of having a big shootout with one another about something. Overheard it from some of my regulars, you see, even went to buy me some bulletproof curtains. See?"
You winced slightly at the loud rattling from the metal shutters that he banged to make his point. "Might be an investment we'll have to look into."
"Wish you the best of luck then, you're going to need if it you're going to convince Shinohara to come swooping in for you," He snorted and rummaged around before tossing something into your ramen bowl. "Have another boiled egg, on the house. You'll be needing it with how long you'll be waiting here."
"Would you really complained about our extended patronage?" You lightly joked and he chuckled before returning to watching television on a little screen behind the counter. It was slightly disappointing that he couldn't offer much more information, especially given what your opticware was saying. Apparently gossiping was a talent, and to be honest, it nearly made up for how heavy the broth was.
You turned your attention next to the building in question itself, giving it a long searching look. It did look a little more rundown from what the provided pictures had depicted, but you couldn't fault them for not keeping it constantly updated. Now though, seeing it physically on site, you gave it a long study with the appraising eye of a Cleaner.
Instantly, you spotted a few big things that clearly weren't on the original layout blueprints, but maybe have been added discretely and off the record over time. The first was a little side staircase that lead directly up from the street to the upstairs living area, carefully built with a slight warp to disguise it as a little hedge bush at casual glance. If you had to guess, this was likely a modification installed so that whoever lived in the shophouse didn't need to necessarily go through the downstairs every time they wanted to leave the place, or likewise if they wanted to go straight to relaxing without needing to trudge through a busy shop. Maybe in the past, it was used for personal family reasons for such privacy.
Whatever it was, it was possible a security flaw, one you could perhaps seize upon to enter through the upstairs, if you so wished. That was your first thought, then you looked harder and noted the rather flimsy nature, likely not meant to support the weight of more than one person at the time. Given that you didn't have such privacy concerns, it could be best to tear it down after all was said and done.. It certainly looked like it hadn't seen proper maintenance for a while.
The next thing you spotted was the odd foundation stonework. It looked fine from a regular eye, but to you, it looked disturbed, like somebody had adjusted them after they had been laid down. It wasn't that unusual, you saw it all the time while working as a Lycoris Cleaner. The big thing was that it strongly correlated with the presence of an underground space dug out after the initial construction project. It looked like your property had a little nice secret addition in the form of a basement, perhaps one built for more secretive purposes.
You wondered if the Scavs knew of it, and decided to assume so. That meant in total, you had to consider three potential combat zones for the upcoming raid: the shop, the upstairs, and the basement. If you could clear out all three areas of enemy presence, then that would definitely be mission success. But you frowned, it surely couldn't be that simple.
Then you saw it, in the torn up dirt front, and your eyes narrowed. It was getting a little harder to see now as daylight was fading, but you think you could make it out, a rather important detail
"Mmh. Mmhhhhh?" Mitsu slurped down a mouthful of noodles and licked her lips. "My tally is at maybe two groups of Scavs infesting our rightful claim. A paltry fight, all things considered."
"It's not two. It could very well be more," You muttered and flicked what you saw her way. "Look, over there. That's tire tracks. They have a vehicle, and they also have more room in the place than it seems. They could very well have three, maybe four groups."
In response, Mitsu shrugged and swallowed. "Best we go in quietly then, or so as long as we can. Then when it gets loud, we get to work."
"A sound enough plan."
From behind the counter, the ramen cart owner overheard your last phrase and frowned. "Hold on, are you two actually thinking about storming the place? You're insane, you're just a pair of schoolgirls, aren't you? Come to think of it," He rubbed his chin and frowned. "Your accents...you're not from around here, are you? That explains why you can't just call for help from one of the gangs."
"Nay, we hail from a land faraway!" Mitsu chirped while placing her empty bowl to the side.
"We're from Kyoto," You added and popped the last egg in your mouth before pushing the leftovers away. "Thank you for your concern, but we'll be just fine."
"From the flower city?" He muttered while the two customers strolled off. "Just what are they teaching those girls to do up there? To become gonks?"
To become Lycoris. You answered in your head while dipping to a little side alleyway. Mitsu shared a nod with you, then, as one, you both flicked the side of your schoolbags open to reveal the hidden pistol holsters. You drew your trusty Towa 14 with practiced ease and idly checked the loaded magazine. It was full and you neatly slid it back in with a quiet click, not even needing to keep a thumb on an ejection port to not waste a bullet. Caseless was convenient like that.
After a moment of thought, you reached your hand back and sent a prompt to your schoolbag. With a neat click, the bottom deployed a suppressor that you screwed onto your pistol to help keep it quiet. It would be useful for keeping other Scavs unaware of your presence so long as possible, but you would ditch it the moment things got loud.
Across you in the alleyway, Mitsu was doing the same thing with her own service pistol. She also felt and made sure the bokken slung over her back was in easy reach and could be swiftly drawn without issue. She nodded happily and looked at you with an expectant look. "Orders?'
You blinked, then frowned. "We're not in Lycoris anymore, so we don't have ranks. Plus, I don't have as much combat experience as you."
"You still were an honored Second Lycoris with your abilities," She mentioned with a shake of the head. "Honor your calling, and tell me what to do," Mitsu insisted and you pressed your lips together with a sigh. She really was sometimes too stubborn for her own good.
Now then, how best to channel that stubbornness?
Choose an overalls strategy: -[ ] [Strategy] Stealth and Shadows. Keep quiet as long as possible, even hiding in the shadows if alarms are raised.
-[ ] [Strategy] Stealth and Gunfire. Keep quiet as long as you can, but then don't hesitate to go loud when discovered.
-[ ] [Strategy] Bullets and Gunfire. Kick in the doors for maximum effect on a surprise round, followed by an intense firefight to eliminate the opposition.
Assign your starting combat zone locations: -[ ] [Zone] Anzai Yuuki
--[ ] Upstairs Living Area
--[ ] Ground Floor Shop
-[ ] [Zone] Ryouji Mitsu
--[ ] Upstairs Living Area
--[ ] Ground Floor Shop
- There would normally be ammo expenditure and operative equipment (and costs) to take into account, but this is your first fight entirely. So both you and Mitsu will be heading in with just Towa 14 at full ammunition. She does have a wooden sword to whack people over the head if things get too close, but otherwise, she'll stick to gunplay as well.
- The rooms are small enough that Minerva Optics will more than likely activate at such close ranges.
